Shakira calls breakup with Gerard Piqué the “darkest hour of my life”

Shakira calls breakup with Gerard Piqué the “darkest hour of my life”
Shakira calls breakup with Gerard Piqué the “darkest hour of my life”
J. Countess/Getty Images

Shakira is gearing up for her first album release since 2017 and said it’s helping to distract her from the public dissolution of her relationship with Gerard Piqué.

Speaking to ELLE, the hitmaker called her forthcoming effort “therapeutic” because it’s “an incredible outlet for me to make sense of things.” Shakira says writing music allows her to process “grief or stress.” 

“I think that writing music is like going to the shrink, only cheaper,” she said, adding it’s helping her to “make sense of [my emotions].”

“There have been days when I had to pick up the pieces of me from the floor. And the only way to do that, to actually do that, has been through music,” she admitted.

Shakira is now ready to break her silence on ending her 12-year relationship with Piqué, even though it is “hard to talk about it.”

“It’s been tough not only for me, but also for my kids. Incredibly difficult,” she explained. “I have paparazzi camping outside, in front of my house, 24/7. And there’s not a place where I can hide from them with my kids, except for my own house.”

Shakira, who is the mother of 9-year-old Milan and 7-year-old Sasha, says she’s trying to “conceal the situation” from her sons to “protect them.”

She noted, “It’s really upsetting for two kids who are trying to process their parents’ separation,” which she said has been “vulgarized and cheapened by the media.”

“This is probably the darkest hour of my life,” she added but insisted her sons are the priority right now. “I need to become an example for my kids.”

She also shouted out Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and her “Don’t You Worry” collaborator will.i.am for supporting her during this difficult time.   

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Spoon announces reworked ‘Lucifer on the Sofa’ album, ’Lucifer on the Moon’

Spoon announces reworked ‘Lucifer on the Sofa’ album, ’Lucifer on the Moon’
Spoon announces reworked ‘Lucifer on the Sofa’ album, ’Lucifer on the Moon’
Matador Records

Spoon has teamed up with English dub producer Adrian Sherwood to create a reworked version of the band’s latest album, Lucifer on the Sofa.

The upcoming effort is titled Lucifer on the Moon and will be released November 4.

“It wasn’t just a thing where you pick apart this and that and you stay on the grid and you add a delay,” says frontman Britt Daniel. “[Sherwood] added so much more instrumentation to the tracks that they became completely different versions of the songs. Not just remixes, but companion pieces. A ‘Part II.'”

You can watch the video for the Lucifer on the Moon version of “On the Radio” streaming now on YouTube.

Lucifer on the Sofa was released in February. It features the single “The Hardest Cut.”

Spoon just got off the road supporting Lucifer on the Sofa on the Lights, Camera, Factions tour with Interpol. They’ll return to the live stage for another run of U.S. dates in October.

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Is James Bond the role nobody wants? Longtime producers sound off on search

Is James Bond the role nobody wants? Longtime producers sound off on search
Is James Bond the role nobody wants? Longtime producers sound off on search
Nicola Dove – © 2020 DANJAQ, LLC AND MGM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

One would think the chance to play cinema’s most famous superspy would be a no-brainer for any actor. However, series co-producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson say that’s not the case.

The half-sibling guardians of the 007 property explained to Variety that their search to fill Daniel Craig‘s tux continues — and, yes, Idris Elba‘s name has come up.

“He’s great,” Wilson said. “We love Idris,” Broccoli agreed.

However, 50-year-old Elba recently told The Wall Street Journal, “When I look in the mirror, I don’t see James Bond.”

Broccoli tells Variety she can understand the hesitation Idris — or any actor — might have about the role.

“The thing is, it’s going to be a couple of years off. And when we cast Bond, it’s a 10-, 12-year commitment. So [Idris] is probably thinking, ‘Do I really want that thing?’ Not everybody wants to do that. It was hard enough getting [Craig to agree],” to which Wilson added, “And he was in his early 30s at the time!”

“A lot of people think, ‘Oh yeah, it’d be fun to do one,” Broccoli says with a laugh. “Well. That ain’t gonna work … [I]t’s a big commitment. It’s not just showing up for a couple of months of filming.”

Meanwhile, even gambling oddsmakers have gotten in on the casting situation, placing odds on who will be the next spy with the license to kill.

Vegas Insider says The Witcher‘s Henry Cavill is far and away the odds-on favorite, followed by a close scrum of other heartthrobs: Bridgerton‘s Regé-Jean Page ranked second, slightly ahead of Idris, while Tom Hardy placed fourth and McMafia‘s James Norton was a distant fifth.

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Måneskin announces new single dropping in October

Måneskin announces new single dropping in October
Måneskin announces new single dropping in October
ABC Audio

Måneskin has announced the release of a new single.

The track is set to premiere on Friday, October 7, and is available to presave now.

Måneskin didn’t reveal the title of the song, but they did post a video of what appears to be lyrics written in cursive. The clip focuses on one phrase in particular, reading, “The Loneliest.”

Whatever it’s called, the single will be the first fresh offering from Måneskin to follow their hit “Supermodel,” which dropped in May. It’ll arrive ahead of the Italian rockers’ upcoming debut U.S. tour, which launches Halloween night in Seattle.

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Lil Nas X pranked Olivia Rodrigo and Lizzo with his wax figure

Lil Nas X pranked Olivia Rodrigo and Lizzo with his wax figure
Lil Nas X pranked Olivia Rodrigo and Lizzo with his wax figure
Courtesy of Madame Tussauds

Lil Nas X is having fun with his wax clone, which debuted Tuesday at Madame Tussauds in Hollywood. The lifelike figure is so realistic, the Grammy winner was able to prank his famous friends.

Lil Nas X tweeted a video where he FaceTimed pals Olivia Rodrigo and Lizzo, but directed the camera toward the statue. 

When dialing up Olivia, the singer appears excited for the chat and greets him with a chipper, “Oh my God, hi!” But when Lil Nas X continues to silently grin at her, she asks in confusion, “Hi? Hello?” Olivia then starts to squirm after being met with continued awkward silence.

Lil Nas X quickly flips the camera over and issues several apologies to Olivia for the prank. “He looks so real, right?” he laughs.  

Olivia giggles back, “Oh my God! I was like, ‘Is he frozen?'”

When it came to pranking Lizzo, the singer seems happy for the unexpected FaceTime call. She soon realizes that the Lil Nas X on the other end isn’t moving and exclaims, “What the f***?!”

“It’s my wax figure,” the rapper announces with a laugh. “Oh my God, is that not me?”

Lizzo responds, “I f***ing thought it was you and I was like, ‘Why are you in your Met Gala outfit?!'”

Lil Nas X also tried to fool Troye Sivan, but he immediately suspected he was talking to a wax figure.

As previously reported, Madame Tussauds unveiled their ultra lifelike new wax figure on Tuesday, which Lil Nas X has dubbed his “twin.”

“I knew this was going to be good but this is, like, scary amazing,” he said in a statement.

Fans can now interact with the lifelike statue at Madame Tussauds in Hollywood, California.

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Garbage announces career-spanning ‘Anthology’ compilation

Garbage announces career-spanning ‘Anthology’ compilation
Garbage announces career-spanning ‘Anthology’ compilation
Andrew Chin/Getty Images

Garbage has announced a career-spanning best-of compilation titled Anthology.

The collection spans from Garbage’s 1995 self-titled debut to their most recent album, 2021’s No Gods No Masters. The two-disc CD version includes 35 tracks, while the two-LP vinyl edition includes 20.

Both versions feature classics such as “#1 Crush,” “Push It,” “Stupid Girl” and “I Think I’m Paranoid,” as well as Garbage’s James Bond song “The World Is Not Enough” and the rarity “Witness to Your Love.”

“This Anthology is testimony to our almost 3 decades of creative work together, our terrifying tenacity and the astounding fan support we are so lucky to receive,” Garbage says.

Anthology will be released October 28 and is available to preorder now.

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Steve Nicks releasing new version of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” on Friday

Steve Nicks releasing new version of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” on Friday
Steve Nicks releasing new version of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” on Friday
Erika Goldring/WireImage

As she’s been making her way through the festival circuit this month, Stevie Nicks has added a cover of a classic tune to her set list, and now she’s releasing it as a single.

The song is Stevie’s version of Buffalo Springfield‘s “For What It’s Worth (Stop, Hey What’s That Sound).” The 1966 track was written by the band’s Stephen Stills in response to the demonstrations against Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip curfew laws, which turned violent as protestors clashed with police.

Now, Stevie writes on her socials, her version of the tune will be out on Friday. “It meant something to me then, and it means something to be now,” she notes of the song. “I always wanted to interpret it thru the eyes of a woman and it seems like today, in the times that we live in — that it has a lot to say. I can’t wait for you to hear it.”

Among the song’s lyrics which might resonate today: “There’s battle lines being drawn/Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong,” and “A thousand people in the street/Singing songs and they carrying signs/Mostly say, ‘Hooray for our side.'”

This will be Stevie’s first release of music since her 2020 single “Show Them the Way.”

“For What It’s Worth” isn’t the only cover Stevie’s been doing this month in concert: She’s also been performing her dear friend Tom Petty‘s “Free Fallin'” as well as her take on Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll.”

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Sophomore year: ABC’s ‘Abbott Elementary’ returns tonight

Sophomore year: ABC’s ‘Abbott Elementary’ returns tonight
Sophomore year: ABC’s ‘Abbott Elementary’ returns tonight
ABC/Gilles Mingasson

Fresh off of its Emmy wins for show creator, writer and co-star Quinta Brunson and Sheryl Lee RalphAbbott Elementary returns for its sophomore season Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET on ABC. 

Tyler James Williams, who plays newbie teacher Gregory Eddie, tells ABC Audio that watching the show take off has been a trip. 

“Third episode aired…third or fourth. It had trended on Twitter from the week prior directly into the next episode for a full week later. And that’s when I understood it was like, ‘I think we have something big here, you guys,'” he said. “[W]hen people talked about it for a week straight, that’s when you know.” 

Janelle James, who plays sarcastic principal Ava Coleman opines, “[I]t feels so good. Like, the most feedback that I get from people is that this is their, like, feel good show and they watch it with their families.”

She says, “I really think that’s amazing to me and it’s just good in a time where, you know, a lot of things are happening, to be part of something that makes people feel good and is happy.”

Ironically, considering her Emmy win, Ralph once thought her kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard wouldn’t be a stand-out character. “[H]onest to God, I didn’t think that anybody was going to see my performance. I thought that I was just going to be there,” she said. “And I had no idea that people would react to Mrs. Howard the way they have.”

She wanted to play the principal, but Brunson talked her out of it. “[S]he said, ‘Oh, Ms. Ralph, no, we need a queen for Mrs. Howard, and you are that queen,'” Ralph recalled. “So I was like, ‘Okay, thank you very much. I’ll be the Queen.'”

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New Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers live album to showcase band’s 1997 Fillmore residency

New Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers live album to showcase band’s 1997 Fillmore residency
New Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers live album to showcase band’s 1997 Fillmore residency
Cover: Tom Garner/Warner Records

An archival Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers album and box set featuring highlights from the 20-show residency the band played at San Francisco’s famed Fillmore venue in 1997 will be released on November 25.

Put together by Tom Petty‘s estate in collaboration with Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell, Live at the Fillmore (1997) will be available in multiple formats and configurations, including a four-CD package, a six-LP vinyl collection, a two-CD set and a three-LP release.

The four-CD and six-LP versions will feature 58 tracks, including 35 cover tunes. Both packages will come with a booklet featuring rare photos, three custom guitar picks, a replica laminate pass and an embroidered patch.

Live at the Fillmore (1997) features performances recorded during the final six shows of the residency. The band changed the set list every night; in addition to playing plenty of classic Petty & the Heartbreakers originals, they performed renditions of songs by The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Kinks, The Everly Brothers, Chuck Berry and more.

Petty and company also welcomed some special guests during the residency, including Roger McGuinn, of The Byrds, and blues legend John Lee Hooker.

“Playing the Fillmore in 1997 for a month was one of my favorite experiences as a musician in my whole life,” Campbell says. “The band was on fire and we changed the set list every night. The room and the crowd was spiritual … AND … we got to play with some amazing guests. I will always remember those nights with joy and inspiration.”

A version of “Listen to Her Heart” has been released as an advance digital track from Live at the Fillmore and a companion music video has been posted on Petty’s official YouTube channel.

You can preorder Live at the Fillmore now.

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Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jennifer Hudson reminisce about ‘Dreamgirls’

Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jennifer Hudson reminisce about ‘Dreamgirls’
Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jennifer Hudson reminisce about ‘Dreamgirls’
Will Hart/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

It was a joyous meeting of Dreamgirls as Sheryl Lee Ralph appeared Tuesday on The Jennifer Hudson Show.

Ralph, who recently won her first Emmy for her role in Abbott Elementary, starred in the original Dreamgirls Broadway production from 1981-1985. She portrayed Deena Jones, lead singer of The Dreams.
Hudson starred as singer Effie White in the 2006 Dreamgirls film, for which she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Sheryl recalled following several outstanding vocalists when she auditioned for the Tony award-winning musical.
“The building was literally levitating off of the concrete, that’s how wonderful they were,” Ralph remembered. “And then there was me.”

When the producers announced two names they choose for the play, Sheryl was ready to leave, assuming she was rejected. Then, they called her name.

“I’m really having a moment, because I wish I’d have been able to see that [version of the musical],” Hudson said. “I was born the year that came out.”

The duo decided to have “some Dreamgirls fun” and wore pink feather boas, with Ralph commenting, “Girl, now this is not any cheap boa so you know I’m keeping it.”

“I can’t believe I get to do this,” Hudson said. She then followed Ralph’s choreography as they danced and sang along to the Dreamgirls’ title song.

“Oh my god, I can’t believe I just got to ha that moment with you,” Jennifer told the 65-year-old actress. “That was a dream, she’s a dream.”

Ralph returns as kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard for the second season of Abbott Elementary, which debuts Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

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